TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona State cross country teams have found themselves highly ranked in the latest national rankings, released Sept. 29, following a stellar outing at the Roy Griak Invitational over the weekend. The women, who entered the race as the No. 20 team in the polls, climbed to No. 4 in the FinishLynx Top 30 while men went from being unranked the week before to No. 13 in the MONDO Top 30 this week.

The women's ranking is one off the program record of No. 3 set during the 2001 season. The men's ranking is a record, surpassing a Top 15 position earned in 2001 as well.

"This is great recognition for our runners and the program," Walt Drenth, ASU head coach, said. "The rankings are nice, but the only polls that matter are the ones at the end of the season. We feel we have built a competitive program on both sides and now it is important we continue to improve."

The Sun Devils traveled to Minneapolis, Minn., for the meet with the women walking away with the title and the men claiming fifth in the race. The women accumulated 103 points on its way to knocking off No. 5 Providence and No. 6 Wake Forest on its way to the title. The win also marked the second Griak crown secured by the women in the last three years. The women were led by the third-place finish of Amy Hastings and Anna Masinelli's seventh-place finish.

The men amassed 188 points to finish fifth with six nationally ranked foes finishing behind the Sun Devils. Those teams included No. 10 Eastern Michigan, No. 15 Providence, No. 19 Portland, No. 25 Minnesota, No. 26 Iowa and No. 28 Texas. Juan Reyes returned to competition by pacing the team with a 16th-place finish as Aaron Aguayo supported him in 22nd place.

ASU returns to action at home next Friday when it plays host to the Arizona State Invitational at Kiwanis Park in Tempe. The women's 6,000m run starts at 4:45 p.m. and the men's 8,000m race at 5:15 p.m.